Adelaide Crows and Tom Lynch 'a fair way off' extending AFL contract

It's being reported the Adelaide Crows are still a long way away from re-signing important forward Tom Lynch, with the two parties miles apart in what they are seeking.

Lynch is a vital cog to the Adelaide machine but has been shuffled well behind Rory Sloane in the Crows' list of priorities.

The 27-year-old was shortlisted for All-Australian selection the past two years and is considered by many as the key to Adelaide's attack, yet the club and player are failing to agree on the length and size of a new contract, one that would most likely be the last of his career.

"As it stands, the Tom Lynch camp and the Adelaide Football Club camp are a fair way off, on paper, in terms of the length of deal and of monetary value," Edmund later said on SEN Breakfast.

The stand off surprises many experts who rate Lynch, and his effect on the side, highly.

"He plays beautifully in a forward line that organises themselves as well as the Adelaide Crows forward line," Tim Watson said.

"He is the conduit."

Watson's SEN co-host Garry Lyon agreed and said there will be no lack of suitors for the Victorian-born Lynch.

"There wouldn't be a club in the competition that wouldn't welcome Tom Lynch into their setup."

Former Swans star Dale Lewis addressed the matter back in February and it seems no progress has been made since.

"Tom Lynch, is probably the most important player (of three out-of-contract Crows including Sloane and Rory Laird) when it comes to game style for the Adelaide Crows," Lewis said on Triple M radio in Adelaide.

"There's a bit of mail around that (the Crows) might have grabbed out the old 'low-baller' again, the old Jake Lever," Lewis said in reference to the small contract offered to the key defender who finished up heading to Melbourne.

Adelaide has a reputation for undervaluing its star players, and has seen big names such as Lever, Patrick Dangerfield, Kurt Tippett and Phil Davis poached in recent seasons.